Expandible wardrobe shelf with adjustable captive brackets



Dec. 7, 1965 e. H.. SEDO 3,221,676

EXPANDIBLE WARDROBE SHELF WITH ADJUSTABLE CAPTIVE BRACKETS Filed Jan. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G'fi/MD A. $500 INVENTOR.

G. H. SEDO Dec. 7, 1965 EXPANDIBLE WARDROBE SHELF WITH ADJUSTABLE GAPTIVE BRACKETS Filed Jan. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofi" 3,221,676 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 3,221,676 EXPANDIBLE WARDROBE SHELF WITH AD- JUSTABLE CAPTIVE BRACKETS Gerald H. Setlo, West Covina, Calif, assignor to M & D Store Fixtures, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,334 Claims. (Cl. 108-28) This invention relates to the art of telescopically expandible sheet metal shelves and particularly to such a shelf which is designed for expansion to fit lengthwise be tween parallel walls, such as the side walls of a closet, to which the shelf is then secured.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a shelf which is especially adapted for use as a wardrobe shelf and which will fit endwise snugly between side walls of any wardrobe closet within a substantial range of spacings for such walls.

A prior expandible wardrobe shelf is disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,720,316 this shelf having telescopic downbent front edge flanges, lower edges of which are bent rearwardly and upwardly to provide a blind wardrobe rail under the front edge of the shelf. This rail has the merit of eliminating the need for a wardrobe rail separate from the shelf but has the practical disadvantage of requiring each hanger with clothes draped thereon to be shifted rearwardly and upwardly behind the blind rail in order to hook said hanger on the rail. This operation is the reverse of that to which people are long accumstomed and has, moreover, the drawback of rubbing garments against the closet back wall when placing them in or removing them from storage.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide an expandible wardrobe shelf having a clothes hanging rail embodied with the front edge of said shelf and disposed downwardly therefrom, onto which rail clothes hangers may be applied and from which they may be removed, with both operations performed from the front of the shelf.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an endwise telescopically expandible wardrobe shelf embodying a novel captive, endwise shiftable bracket which is thus adapted to be located opposite a wall stud before being secured to a closet back wall.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide such a shelf embodying a multiple of captive brackets which brackets are foldable relative to the shelf structure to reduce the shipping space required for such shelf and brackets.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects as well as further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with this expanded as when applying it to the opposite side walls of a clothes closet.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrates the installed relationship of an intermediate bracket of the invention relative to the shelf top members thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary lengthwise vertical sectional view taken at a reduced scale on line 33 of FIG. 2 and showing the relative positions of three shelf brackets when the shelf is expanded into engagement with a pair of spaced closet walls for installation in said closet.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view comprising a righthand portion of FIG. 3, reproduced at an enlarged scale, and illustrates in broken lines the facility with which the captive brackets of the invention may be folded relative to the shelf top members thereof to reduce the space required for shipment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective view looking from behind at the same rear corner of the shelf illustrated in FIG. 4 and with the adjacent shelf top member shown in broken lines so as to illustrate the interlocking relation of the rear upward corner of each of the captive brackets of the invention with the back flange of one of the shelf top members thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the invention is therein illustrated as embodied in a wardrobe shelf 10 which includes primary and secondary telescopically related sheet metal shelf top members 11 and 12 righthand and left-hand shelf end brackets 13 and 14 and one or more intermediate brackets 15.

The primary or right-hand shelf top member 11 comprises a rectangular sheet metal blank 16 from back and front edge portions of which back and front flanges 17 and 18 are bent downwardly respectively while an outside end portion of said blank has an end flange 19 bent downwardly therefrom.

The back flange 17 has a lower portion 20 bent horizontally inwardly and an edge portion 25 of this is then bent vertically upwardly. At the same distance downwardly from the front edge of blank 16, front flange 18 has an inward bend to produce a backwardly inclined wall 26 the lower edge of which is connected by an oblique-angled forward bend with a horizontal wall 27 having a vertical wall 28 formed by bending upwardly from the front edge of wall 27, the upper portion of wall 28 having a double bend rearwardly and downwardly to form a clothes hanger rail 29.

The end flange 19 has approximately the same vertical dimension as the back and front flanges 17 and 18, and preferably is provided with a pair of screw holes 30.

The primary shelf top member 11, just described, is supplied in various lengths which, for instance, may vary (in increments of one foot) from two feet to seven feet in length.

The secondary shelf top member 12 preferably comes in only a single relatively short length, such as 18 inches, and comprises a sheet metal blank 31 from back and front edges of which back and front flanges 32 and 33 are formed by rectangular downward bends and these flanges have additional bends similar to those formed in back and front flanges 17 and 18, all of the bends by which flanges 32 and 33 are formed, however, being so located that secondary shelf top member 12 is dimensioned and shaped so as to slidably interfit with any one of the primary shelf top members 11 when the inner end of the secondary shelf top member 12 is aligned with and telescopically inserted into said primary shelf top member as shown in FIG. 1.

Structural elements of the secondary shelf top member 12 which interfit with corresponding elements of primary shelf top member 11 and which have not been specifically described will be identified in the drawings by the use of reference numerals applied to corresponding elements of primary shelf top member 11, with prime attached.

The inner end edge portion of secondary shelf top member 12 is reinforced by a narrow flange 34 bent downwardly at a right angle from blank 31. Bent downwardly at a right angle from the outer end edge of secondary shelf top member 12 is a reinforcing and mounting flange 35 the vertical dimension of which corresponds with that of end flange 19. Outer end flange 35 is provided with suitable screw holes 36 for use in mounting the shelf 10.

The right-hand end bracket 13 and left-hand end bracket 14 are reverse duplicates of each other and the intermediate bracket 15 may correspond in construction to either of the brackets 13 and 14 so that a description 3 of right-hand end bracket 13 will suffice for all three of these brackets.

Each of these brackets is made of somewhat heavier sheet metal than the shelf top members 11 and 12 and includes a normally vertically disposed fiat body 40 having formed in its upper portion a double rectangular offset bend to provide a vertical upper flange 41 which is secured to the body 40 by a horizontal web 42. Formed by die punching from the blank from which the bracket is to be produced, and before the aforesaid bending operation, is an opening 43 (FIG. comprising the entire rear end portion of horizontal web 42 and a slot 44 which extends upwardly from said opening in the vertical flange 41 to provide a hook 45 at the rear end of said flange. Bent at right angles from the rear end of body 40 in the same direction therefrom as horizontal web 42 is bent is a normally vertical mounting flange 46 having screw holes 47 and a key hole slot 48. Flange 46 is also provided with an upper beveled edge 49 for a reason to be made clear hereinafter. Throughout most of its length the flange body 40 has a lower inclined edge 50 which unites at the front end of the bracket wit-h a sharply inclined edge 51 which closely fits the rear face of backwardly inclined wall 26 of the front flange 18 of primary shelf top member 11 or with the corresponding wall 26 of secondary shelf top member 12. The sharply inclined edge 51 terminates at its upper end at the front end of the horizontal web 42. Also provided in each bracket body 40 is a row of screw holes 52 for use in fastening an end bracket to an end wall of a closet.

The brackets 13, 14 and 15 (FIG. 3) are originally assembled with one or the other of the shelf top members 11 and 12 before these members are assembled in telescopic relation as shown in FIG. 1. It is believed manifest that such assembly of the individual brackets with the individual top members, before the latter are assembled, is readily accomplished but that after this preliminary assembly of the brackets with the top members has taken place, the slidable assembly of the two members in telescopic relation as shown in FIG. 1 traps the brackets 13, 14 and 15 in captive relation wit-h said top members.

This captive relation is brought about by the hook 45 of each bracket receiving in the slot 44 thereof one or both of the vertical flanges 25 and 25 bent upwardly from the inner edges of the horizontal walls 20 and 20 formed inwardly on the back flanges 17 and 32 of shelf top members 11 and 12 respectively, and by the front end portions of these brackets being confined by the backwardly inclined walls 26 or 26' of the top members 11 and 12, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. Thus, with ordinary care and to all practical purposes, the brackets 13, 14 and 15 are held captive by the wardrobe shelf during the shipping and installation of the latter while, at the same time, any of these brackets is readily shiftable length-- wise of the shelf to place it in its proper position for securing it to one of the end walls 56 and 57 of a closet, shown in FIG. 3, or to a back wall (not shown) of said closet.

The wardrobe shelf 10 not only embodies the brackets 13, 14 and in captive assembled realtion with the shelf top members 11 and 12 so that all the elements of the shelf may be shipped as a unit, but the loose manner in which opposite ends of each bracket are confined by the shelf top members, permits the brackets to be rocked from rectangular relation with the shelf top members as shown in full lines in FIG. 4 to the broken line position 58 shown therein so that the shelf assembly in its entirety may be shipped in a space having no greater depth than that of the front flanges 18 and 33 and the elements bent therefrom to provide rail 29-29. In folded position 58, beveled edge 49 of flange 46 rests against horizontal wall or 20'.

While only a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and that various changes and modifications may be made in the specific construction of the embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The claims are:

1. In a sheet metal wardrobe shelf which is expandible lengthwise, the combination of: primary and secondary telescopically related sheet metal shelf top members, each of which comprises a flat rectangular blank having front and back flanges downturned respectively from front and back edge portions thereof, lower portions of said back flanges being also bent inwardly and upwardly, and lower portions of said front flanges being bent inwardly whereby said members are retained by said front and back flanges in a telescopic relation until separated by an endwise sliding movement between said members, an outer end portion of each of said members also having an end flange downturned therefrom; and a shelf supporting bracket having a downturned hook at its back end which slidably receives the upturned edge portions of said back flanges while the front end of said bracket is confined by the inwardly bent portions of said front flanges whereby said bracket is held in transversely slidable captive assembly with said top members, said bracket being free to rock through a substantial angle about its length to reduce the space required for shipment of said shelf, there being a multiplicity of at least three brackets held in captive assembly with said top members, two of said brackets being available for supporting said shelf at its opposite ends when installing the same and the other of said brackets being available to provide intermediate support for said shelf, said transverse shiftability of said third bracket permitting an area to be chosen for its being fastened to a wall where a stud is available for receiving fasteners.

2. A wardrobe shelf as recited in claim 1 wherein lower portions of said front flanges, after being bent inwardly as aforesaid, are bent outwardly, upwardly, and inwardly to provide a transverse forwardly facing wardrobe rail spaced a substantial distance below the level of said shelf.

3. A wardrobe shelf as recited in claim 1 wherein lower portions of said front flanges, after being bent inwardly as aforesaid, are bent outwardly, upwardly, and inwardly to provide a transverse forwardly facing wardrobe rail spaced a substantial distance below and forwardly from the front edge of said shelf.

4. In a sheet metal Wardrobe shelf which is expandible lengthwise, the combination of: primary and secondary telescopically related sheet metal shelf top members, each of which comprises a flat rectangular blank having front and back flanges downturned respectively from front and back edge portions thereof, lower portions of said back flanges being also bent inwardly and upwardly, and lower portions of said front flanges being bent inwardly whereby said members are retained by said front and back flanges in a telescopic relation until separated by an endwise sliding movement between said members, an outer end portion of each of said members also having an end flange dowturned therefrom; and a shelf supporting bracket having a downturned hook at its back end which slidably receives the upturned edge portions of said back flanges while the front end of said bracket is confined by the inwardly bent portions of said front flanges whereby said bracket is held in transversely slidable captive assembly with said top members, said bracket being free to rock through a substantial angle about its length to reduce the space required for shipment of said shelf, said bracket comprising a sheet metal vertical body having in an upper portion thereof a transversely offset double-bent flange, said flange having a vertical portion which contacts and supports one of said shelf top members when said shelf is installed, said hook being formed in said vertical portion of said offset flange adjacent the back end of said flange and a bracket mounting flange bent laterally from the back end of said vertical bracket body in the same direction as said offset flange is bent therefrom, to lie flat against a vertical closet backwall and be secured thereto for mounting said bracket on said wall, said offset flange being provided with a vertical opening in an area thereof adjacent to said hook for the reception of said back flanges of said shelf top members to facilitate the aforesaid rocking of said bracket relative to said members.

5. A wardrobe shelf comprising: a shelf top including primary and secondary members telescopically slidably related so that said shelf top is expandible lengthwise; a plurality of brackets disposed crosswise of said shelf top and therebeneath; and means provided on opposite ends of said brackets and extending downwardly from back and front edges of said shelf top for confining opposite ends of said brackets and thus holding said brackets in captive partially assembled relation with said shelf top while leaving said brackets free for movement lengthwise of said shelf top for selection of the proper location for securing said brackets to a wall on which said shelf is to be mounted, said brackets, although held in captive assembly with said shelf top being also free to be rocked through a substantial angle about the areas of confinement of their opposite ends to materially reduce the space required for shipment of said shelf.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 883,001 3/1908 Curtis 10842 X 1,090,724 3/1914 Koehler 10829 1,521,902 1/1925 Mott 10842 1,836,126 12/1931 Luce 10842 2,720,316 10/1955 Glascott 10828 2,849,123 10/1958 Magill 10842. 2,861,695 11/1958 Carbary 108138 2,940,600 6/ 1960 Bonia et al 10828 2,978,111 4/1961 Bonia et a1. 10828 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SHEET METAL WARDROBE SHELF WHICH IS EXPANDIBLE LENGTHWISE, THE COMBINATION OF: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TELESCOPICALLY RELATED SHEET METAL SHELF TOP MEMBERS, EACH OF WHICH COMPRISES A FLAT RECTANGULAR BLANK HAVING FRONT AND BACK FLANGES DOWNTURNED RESPECTIVELY FROM FRONT AND BACK EDGE PORTIONS THEREOF, LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID BACK FLANGES BEING ALSO BENT INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY, AND LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID FRONT FLANGES BEING BENT INWARDLY WHEREBY SAID MEMBERS ARE RETAINED BY SAID FRONT AND BACK FLANGES IN A TELESCOPIC RELATION UNTIL SEPARATED BY AN ENDWISE SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, AN OUTER END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS ALSO HAVING AN END FLANGE DOWNTURNED THEREFROM; AND A SHELF SUPPORTING BRACKET HAVING A DOWNTURNED HOOK AT ITS BACK END WHICH SLIDABLY RECEIVES THE UPTURNED EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID BACK FLANGES WHILE THE FRONT END OF SAID BRACKET IS CONFINED BY THE INWARDLY BENT PORTIONS OF SAID FRONT FLANGES WHEREBY SAID BRACKET IS HELD IN TRANSVERSELY SLIDABLE CAPTIVE ASSEMBLY 